spoken

spoken — verb

1. the form of 'speak' used with 'have', 'has', or 'had' for completed actions, or

1.verbA2
Definition

the form of 'speak' used with 'have', 'has', or 'had' for completed actions, or with 'be' in passive sentences.

Example

Hamza has spoken with every department head, so the plan is ready to go.

present perfect with 'has' + 'spoken to [someone]'

The elderly woman had not spoken a single word since the accident.

Common collocations
  • has spoken
  • had spoken
  • have spoken
  • been spoken

Grammar Patterns

have/has/had + spoken

be + spoken

Usage Note

As a past participle, 'spoken' only appears in compound verb forms (perfect tenses, passive voice). It never stands alone as a main verb.

Common Mistakes

I have speak to her yesterday.
I spoke to her yesterday.
simple past uses 'spoke', not 'spoken'.
I spoken to him this morning.
I have spoken to him this morning.
'spoken' needs a helping verb like 'have' or 'had'.

2. used to describe a language or type of communication that people produce with th

2.verbB1
Definition

used to describe a language or type of communication that people produce with their voice, rather than through writing or music.

Example

Putri finds spoken Italian much easier to understand than written Italian.

collocation: 'spoken [language] vs written [language]'

The exam tests both spoken and written English skills equally.

paired with 'written' in formal contexts

Common collocations
  • spoken English
  • spoken language
  • spoken word
  • spoken communication
Synonyms
  • oral

    more formal than 'spoken', often used in academic or legal contexts

  • verbal

    can also mean 'relating to words in general'; 'spoken' is preferred for contrast with 'written'

Antonyms
  • written

    the opposite medium of communication

Usage Note

Commonly contrasted with 'written' in the same sentence. The noun following 'spoken' is usually a language name ('spoken English') or a communication noun ('spoken language', 'spoken word').

Common Mistakes

I need to improve my spoken.
I need to improve my spoken English.
'spoken' before a language is an adjective and needs a noun after it.

spoken — adjective

spoken — suffix

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words relate to speech, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Spoken' is the most general term, simply contrasting with 'written' — a spoken apology, spoken language. 'Oral' is more formal and appears in academic, medical, or legal settings: oral exam, oral tradition, oral testimony. 'Verbal' is broader: it can mean 'relating to words' (verbal skills, verbal abuse) rather than specifically speech, so a 'verbal agreement' could be spoken OR signed — whereas a 'spoken agreement' is unambiguously voiced. 'Vocal' focuses on using the voice actively: a vocal critic is someone who speaks out loudly. For learners, use 'spoken' for everyday contrast with writing, 'oral' for exams and traditions, and 'verbal' carefully since it includes sign language and word-based communication that isn't spoken aloud.

oral ↗verbal ↗spoken ↗vocal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • spoken language
  • spoken word
  • spoken English
  • spoken French
  • spoken agreement
  • spoken tradition

Adverbs

  • softly spoken
  • well spoken
  • plainly spoken

Phrases

  • spoken and written
  • spoken form
  • spoken communication

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Spoken' comes from Old English 'sprecen', the past participle of 'sprecan' (to speak). In Middle English the verb shifted to 'speken', giving the form 'spoken'. The suffix use (as in 'soft-spoken') developed in the 1500s as English began forming compound adjectives from adverb + past participle patterns.